Fitment guide

BMW E85 E86 Z4 Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

Originally published | 05/20/2020
Updated | 09/21/2023

Vehicle Covered in this Guide 2002-2008 Z4 Roadster (E85) and Coupe (E86). Fitment is identical between all Z4 Non-M models.

Available Wheel Designs

Bolt Pattern

5x120mm

Centerbore

72.56mm

Lug Seat

60° Conical

Lug Thread Pitch

M12x1.5mm

OEM+ Wheel Fitment

Easy upgrades for street-driven cars

  • Grey BMW Z4 - SM-10 in Satin Black

Square Setups Recommended for most types of street and performance driving. Allows proper front-to-rear tire rotation to extend tire life & improve handling balance.

  • Front & Rear: 17x8.5" ET40 with 235/40-17 tires
    • Direct fit.
    • 235/45-17 tires can also be used as a direct fit.
    • Available in ARC-8R, EC-7R, and ARC-8 designs only.

  • Front & Rear: 18x8.5" ET35 or ET38 with 235/40-18 tires
    • Direct fit.

Staggered Setups

Maintains stock-like handling characteristics, tires can only be rotated left to right. Maximizes both front and rear tire width.

  • Front: 17x8.5" ET40 with 235/40-17 tires // Rear: 17x9" ET42 with 255/40-17 tires
    • Available in ARC-8, ARC-8R, and EC-7R designs.
    • Direct fit.

  • Front: 18x8.5" ET35 or ET38 with 235/40-18 tires // Rear: 18x9.5" ET35 with 255/35-18 tires
    • Direct fit.
    • Popular fitment.
    • 265/35-18 rear tires can be used, but may require rolled fenders to prevent rubbing.

  • Front: 18x8.5" ET35 with 235/40-18 tires // Rear: 18x9.5" ET43 with 265/35-18 tires
    • Available in EC-7 design only.
    • Direct fit.
    • 275/35-18 rear tires can be used, but may require rolled fenders to prevent rubbing.

  • Front: 19x8.5" ET35 with 235/35-19 tires // Rear: 19x9.5" ET33 with 255/30-19 tires
    • Direct fit.
    • Available in ARC-8 and EC-7 designs only.
    • Rear 275/30-19 tires may also be used with rolled fenders and/or negative camber.

  • Front: 19x8.5" ET35 with 235/35-19 tires // Rear: 19x9.5" ET43 with 255/30-19 tires
    • Direct fit.
    • Available in EC-7 design only.
    • Rear 275/30-19 tires may also be used with rolled fenders and/or negative camber.

Performance Street and Track Wheel Fitment

Wider fitments for enhanced performance

Square Setups Recommended for most types of street and performance driving. Allows proper front-to-rear tire rotation to extend tire life & improve handling balance.

  • Front & Rear: 17x9" ET30 with 235/40-17 tires
    • Front negative camber required.
    • Available in ARC-8R, EC-7R, and ARC-8 designs only.

  • Front & Rear: 18x9" ET30 or ET31 with 235/40-18 tires
    • Front negative camber required.

Staggered Setups Maintains stock-like handling characteristics, tires can only be rotated left to right. Maximizes both front and rear tire width.

  • Front: 17x8.5" ET35 or ET40 with 235/40-17 tires // Rear: 17x9.5" ET35 with 255/40-17 tires
    • Direct fit.
    • Available in ARC-8R, EC-7R, and ARC-8 designs only.
    • 275/40-17 rear tires may also be used with rolled fenders and/or negative camber.

  • Front: 18x9" ET30 or ET31 with 235/40-18 tires // Rear: 18x9.5" ET35 with 255/35-18 tires
    • Popular fitment.
    • Front negative camber required.
    • Rear 265/35-18 or 275/35-18 tires may also be used with rolled fenders and/or negative camber.
  • Front: 19x9" ET28 or ET30 with 245/35-19 tires // Rear: 19x9.5" ET33 with 255/30-19
    • Available in ARC-8 design only.
    • Front negative camber required.

Additional Resources

Identifying Suspension Types

If you’re using coilovers, see the image below to identify which type of coilover spring you have, as it may effect your wheel fitment.

Aftermarket Z4 Suspensions Known To Reduce Inner Clearance (includes but not limited to):

  • Bilstein PSS9 & PSS10
  • KW Height-Adjustable Spring (HAS) kit
  • KW Variants
  • KW Clubsports
  • Öhlins Road & Track

Concavity & Face Profiles

Each of our wheel designs is available in two or three different levels of concavity, which we call Profiles. The Profile is dictated by the width and offset, meaning wide lower-offset wheels will have more concavity, while narrow higher-offset wheels will have less concavity.

About Camber Plates

Adjustable camber plates do more than just aid in wide wheel and tire fitment. They provide increased grip and reduced tire wear by spreading the load evenly during cornering. Learn more in our blog article, The Positives of Negative Camber.

Big Brake Kit Clearances

We have tested many brake kits with the wheels listed in this guide. Please email us with any questions related to brake clearance, we’ll be happy to help.

Still have questions?

Fill out our Fitment Recommendation form Call us: 925-245-0773 Email us: support@apexraceparts.com